Toy traversing hoist and game



Aug. 3, 1968 J. M. RISSER 3,396,487

TOY TRAVERSING HOIST AND GAME Filed May 27, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

1968 J. M. RISSER 3,396,482

TOY TRAVERSING HOIST AND GAME Filed May 27, 1966 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

-59. .78 J: 245431. /N Hus-5 Aug. 13, 1968 J. M. RISSER TOY TRAVERSINGHOIST AND GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 27, 1966 INVENTOR. J. MARLINR/mm U fi d St s atent HOIST AND GAME This invention pertains to a toytype traversing hoist suspended for operation upon a plurality ofcombination supporting cables mounted under tension which also serve ascurrent-conducting means. The present invention also contemplates andprovides additional apparatus for use with the hoist so as to comprise avariety of games which can be played with the apparatus.

A number of toy-type traversing hoists have been provided heretofore,including cars or carriages movable upon supporting lines or cables.Certain of these have required manual means to operate the car orcarriage however, through the employment of additional cables or cords,while others have required specific cables serving as supporting means,while additional cables comprise power-supplying means where thecarriages have included electric motors, for example, to propel the samealong the supporting cable. I

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a toytraversing hoist which utilizes a plurality of elongated, transverselyspaced metallic cables supported under tension and insulated from eachother, whereby the same also are connectable to switch means and sourcesof current so as simultaneously also to serve as power supplying meansto the motors carried by the carriage which is capable of being moved,selectively, in opposite directions along the cables.

Another object of the invention is to provide on the carriage additionalelectric motor means connected to a drum around which a hoisting cableis coiled, the motor preferably being of the reversible type and theswitch means by which power is supplied to said motor are so arrangedthat the hoist can be operated, selectively, in reverse direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide relatively simple meansto engage all of the cables simultaneously at one end and coil the sameat least a limited amount to place the cables under appropriate tension,while the opposite ends of the cables are connected to insulating typeself-equalizing means by which equal tension is placed upon all of thecables simultaneously by the first-mentioned tension means which engagethe cables at the opposite ends thereof from those ends engaged by theselfequalizing means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide additional apparatuspositionable below the cables and the carriage movable therealong,whereby appropriate means such as a magnet or hook may be connected tothe depending end of the hoisting cable for purposes of manipulatingcertain elements of the first-mentioned apparatus below the cables, allof the mechanism being operable in a manner to constitute an amusing andskill-developing game structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide dismountable buteasily arranged supporting mechanism for the cables in the form ofcross-arms quickly engageable with vertical supporting means such asposts which, likewise, are readily capable of being mounted in operativeposition with respect to an appropriate base incident to setting up theapparatus for operative use.

Details of the invention and of the foregoing objects thereof, as wellas other objects of the invention, are set forth in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising apart thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially fragmentary perspective elevation 3,396,487Patented Aug. 13, 1968 ice of an exemplary setup of the apparatusembodying the principles of the present invention and capable of beingoperated either as a toy or as a game.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plane view, partly broken away to foreshorten thesame, illustrating on a larger scale than in FIG. 1, one embodiment ofsupporting means for the cables by which the carriage is supported andwhich also serve to supply the motors of the carriage.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of cable-supporting mean illustrated in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective, further enlarged view of thecable-supporting means illustrated at the righthand ends of FIGS. 2 and3 as viewed facing the sheet of drawing. I

FIG. 5 is a further embodiment of cable-supporting and tensioning meansillustrating, at the right-hand end thereof, mechanism forsimultaneously tensioning all of the cables in a manner different fromthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the tensioning means illustrated at theright-hand end of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary electrical circuit diagram by which power issupplied to the cables of the several embodiments shown in the precedingfigures.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the carriage illustrated in operativeposition upon the cables shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the carriage shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, exemplary top plan view of the supportingwheels of the carriage shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 mounted upon exemplarycable sections.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are exemplary, different embodiments of means capable ofbeing supported by the lower end of the hoisting cable which dependsfrom the carriage shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for purposes of utilizing themechanism either as a game or toy.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation, partly broken away to show details of gameapparatus otherwise illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of additional apparatus capable of beingoperated either as a game or toy in conjunction with or independently ofthe apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 14 as seen on the line 15-15 of said figure.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 15 asseen on theline 16-16 of said figure.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of an element of the gameapparatus shown in FIG. 13 and illustrating details thereof.

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of an end view of an alternatearrangement of the carriage and the sup supporting wheels therefor fromthe illustrations thereof in the preceding figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary base 10 of any suitable type isillustrated in conjunction with the primary elongated base 12 upon whichthe apparatus comprising the principal elements of the present inventionis mounted. It will be seen that the base 10, for example, may beutilized for the arrangement of appropriate background and scenery, aswell as to serve as means upon which other toys may be utilized inconjunction with the apparatus upon the base 12. Further, it iscontemplated that the base 12 in particular may be arranged indisconnectable sections which preferably may be attached to each otherquickly such as by the use of dowels or the like, not illustrated indetail. Further, the base 12 may be made from any suitable material suchas wood, sheet metal, plastics, or the like and finished or decoratedappropriately by painting or otherwise.

Referring particularly to the apparatus mounted upon the base 12 whichcomprises the toy and game aspects provided by the present invention, itwill be seen that the base 12 supports adjacent the opposite endsthereof a pair of vertical post-like members 14 which, if desired, maybe formed from tubular metal such as pipe and supported, for example,upon vertical lugs 16 which are fixed to suitable brackets 18 mountedupon the opposite ends of the base 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, it will be seen that the upper end of theleft-hand post 14 receives a lug 20 complementary to the upper end ofthe hollow member or post 14 and depending from a short cross-arm 22,whereby when the lug 20 is fitted into the upper end of the lefthandpost member 14, the cross-arm will extend transversely thereto forpurposes of supporting on opposite ends thereof clevises 24 whichrespectively support grooved sheaves 26 comprising part ofself-equalizing tension means 28 which otherwise comprise another clevis30 having preferably a rotatable grooved sheave 32 supported between thelegs thereof, the clevis 30 also having an appropriate eyelet or hook 34fixed thereto for purposes to be described.

One of the principal elements of the present invention comprises a caror carriage 36, details of which are described hereinafter. Said car orcarriage is supported by a series of three metallic cables 38, and 42which, if desired, may be of the twisted strand type. The cablespreferably are disposed within a horizontal plane and preferably aresupported in relatively taut condition. The left-hand ends of the cablesare each formed with a connecting loop 44. Appropriate connecting meanssuch as S-hooks 46 respectively are connected to the loops 44 in theoutermost cables 38 and 42, while the loop 44 of the intermediate cable40 is engaged with the hook 34 of clevis 30.

As part of the self-equalizing tension means 28, a noncurrent conductingflexible member 48, which may comprise cotton cord or spun syntheticresin or the like, extends around the grooved sheaves 26 of the fixedclevises 24 and also around the grooved sheave 32 of clevis 30, theopposite ends thereof respectively being connected to the S-hooks 46somewhat in the configuration of an M or W, as seen in plan view in FIG.2.

From FIGS. l-3, it also will be seen that the corresponding ends of thecables 38, 40 and 42, which are connected to the self-equalizing tensionmeans 28, preferably extend through a spacing bar 50 which also servesas a stop indicating one end of the path of traverse for the carriage36. Similar spacing and stop means 52 are positioned at the oppositeends of the cables. The bar 52 however serves still another function,details of which are best shown in FIGS. 2-4, wherein it will be seenthat the ends of the cables adjacent the bar 52 also are provided withloops 54 which extend through appropriate holes in bar 52 for purposesof receiving an elongated anchoring bar 56 which preferably haslongitudinally spaced grooves corresponding to the positions of theloops 54 in the cables in order that said loops might be disposed withinsaid grooves which are illustrated in FIG. 4. This arrangement alsoprovides a very effective means for attaching the bare terminal ends 58of a multi-wire current conduit 60, details of which are set forthhereinafter.

The bar 52 also serves as part of one embodiment of tension-impartingmechanism which is relatively simple and comprises a threaded rod 62which extends through an appropriate hole in the upper end of theright-hand post member 14, as best shown in FIG. 3. One end of thethreaded rod 62 is secured in any appropriate way to the lower part ofbar '52 and tensioning movement of the rod 62 may be effected by meansof a wing nut 64 for example. Further, if desired, the upper end of theright-hand post 14 may be provided with a suitable opening 66, shown inFIG. 3, through which the various individual insulated wires of themulti-wire conduit 60 may extend so as to protect the same.

The supporting mechanism for the cables 38, 40 and 42 described abovemay be quickly assembled from an appropriate kit arrangement, ifdesired, by connecting the various elements which have been referred to.Following the initial assembly of the ends of the cables, for example,with the self-equalizing tension means 28 and the spacing and supportingbar 52, the threaded rod 62 is extended through the hole therefor in theupper end of the right-hand post member 14 after the cross-arm 22 hasbeen mounted in the upper end of the left-hand post member 14, followingwhich the wing 'nut '64 is threaded onto rod 62 and brought intoengagement with the upper end of the right-hand post 14,-turning of thenut continuing until desired tension is placed upon the cables 38, 40and 42. Particularly in view of the function of the flexible member 48of the self-equalizing tension means 28, uni form tension automaticallywill be imparted to all of the cables simultaneously without any furtheroperation of any of the mechanism being required.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of tensioii-impartingmechanism is illustrated which cooperates with the self-equalizingtension means 28 described hereinabove but also illustrated in FIG. 5.The further embodiment of tension-imparting mechanism shown in FIGS. 5and 6 comprises a pair of V-shaped bracket members 68, the angledportions thereof being fixed, for example, to a vertical post 70 which,for example, may either be mounted in an appropriate wall bracket,dependingupon whether certain background scenery is desired for theentire setup of the mechanism, or the lower portion of post 70 may bemounted in the upper end of the tubular right-hand post 14 illustratedin FIGS. 1-3 for example.

' The ends of the brackets 68 are afiixed such as by welding'orotherwise to longitudinally spaced bearing sleeves 72. Fixed to saidbearing sleeves are additional brackets 74. Extending between theupwardly extending portions of said brackets, as seen in FIG. 6 inparticular, is a combination stop member and spacing bar 76.

Rotatably supported by the bearing sleeves 72 is a shaft 78 whichsupports between the inner ends of the bearing sleeves 72 a rotatablesheave 80 of substantially larger diameter than the shaft 78 and bearingsleeves 72.

'- Said sheave is provided with a series of three grooves 82 which areof suflicient depth and width respectively to accommodate substantiallythe entire length of each of the cables 38, 40 and 42 after said cableshave been disconnected, for example, from the self-equalizing tensionmeans 28. By holding the left-hand ends of said cables, as viewed inFIG. 5, such as by engaging the spacing bar 50 after it has been movedinto engagement with the three S-hooks 46, for example, as shown in FIG.6, and rotating the shaft 78, to which sheave 80 is fixed, by means ofcrank 84, the entire length of the three cables may be coiledrespectively within the grooves 82 which are of sufiicient size toaccommodate the entire volume of the cables when so coiled. Anappropriate ratchet lock 86 suitably engages the hub of the crank 84 soas to maintain,

the cables in coiled condition, for example, and is shown somewhatdiagrammatically in FIG. 6. Further, the same ratchet lock may be usedto tension the cables in operative position when the same have beenextended to the crossarm 22 supported by the left-hand post member 14.

Referring to FIGS-840, wherein details of the car or carriage 36 arebest illustrated, it will be seen that said carriage comprises a baseframe 88 which may be formed appropriately from metal, molded fromplastics, or otherwise. Rotatably supported in appropriate bearingsformed in the opposite sides of the frame 88 are a pair of shafts oraxles 90 and 91 upon each of which is a series of three grooved wheels92, 94 and 96 are mounted in electrically insulated relationship withrespect to eachother, such as by utilizing appropriate and conventionalinsulating sleeves or otherwise, not shown. The wheels are mounted uponthe shafts 90 and 91 in the same spaced relationship as the cables 38,and 42, the grooves of said wheels respectively receiving said cablesand the shafts are spaced longitudinally with respect to each other, inthe direction of the cables, to afford reasonably firm support of thecarriage upon the cables.

A pair of small capacity electric motors 98 and 100 are suitablysupported by the frame 88 of carriage 36, preferably in side-by-siderelationship as best seen in FIG. 8. Both motors preferably are of thereversible type. As best seen in FIG. 8, the drive shaft 102 of motor100 projects a suitable distance to accommodate a drum 104, which isfixed thereto for rotation therewith. A hoisting cable 106 is coiledaround drum 104 and is arranged to be raised and lowered therebydepending upon the direction in which the motor 100 is actuated bycontrol means described in detail hereinafter.

The motor 98 is the drive motor for the carriage 36 and the shaftthereof, not shown in detail, is suitably connected to one of the shafts90 or 91, or both if desired, by appropriate gear reduction means ofconventional nature not illustrated in detail in the drawings.

The motors 98 and 100 are of commercial type and appropriate conductors108 and 110 respectively extend between the motors and the frame 88.Additional conductors supported by the frame but not specificallyillustrated extend between the conductors 108 and 110 and appropriatebinder posts 112, best shown in FIG. 8. Supported by one of the binderposts 112 at each side of the frame 88 is a contact brush 114 whichwipingly engages one of the wheels 92 and 96 of each pair thereof. Thisarrangement respectively supplies current to the, motors 98 and 100selectively from the cables 38 and 42 in accordance with the circuitdiagram shown in FIG. 7, further details of which are describedhereinafter.

To complete the circuit through the motors 98 and 100, the cable 40 is acommon neutral or negative conductor. Engagement of the intermediatewheels 94 therewith provide means by which additional contact brushes116 wipingly engage, respectively, the two wheels 94 on shafts 90 and91, the brushes otherwise respectively being connected to the circuitsof the motors 98 and 100.

Referring to FIG. 7 in which an exemplary wiring diagram of the electriccircuit is illustrated, a double-throw selector switch 118 has a switchlever which selectively may be engaged with contacts respectivelyconnected to the cables 38 and 42. By manipulating said switch, theoperator may select whether the propelling motor 98 or the hoistingmotor 100 is to be operated. In accordance with the present circuit,which is relatively simple, no provisions are included forsimultaneously operating said motors. Connected in circuit with theswitch lever of selector switch 118 is a polarized switch 120 providedwith a manually operable switch lever 122 movable between a pair ofcontacts illustrated in FIG. 7. The switch 120 is connected to theneutral or negative cable 40. Accordingly, the contacts selectivelyengageable by the switch lever 122 respectively determine the directionin which the motors will rotate and thereby determine the direction inwhich the propelling motor 98 will drive the carriage 36, and whether ornot the hoist motor 100 will raise or lower the hoisting cable 106.

Further in accordance with the principles of the present invention,particularly if the distance between the outermost cables 38 and 42 issubstantial with respect to the height and weight of the carriage 36 andparticularly the motors included therewith, the arrangement illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 9 with respect to the cables and carriage is sufficientto afford stable travel of the carriage with respect to the cableswithout appreciable tilting or swaying thereof. If it is desired howeverto afford greater stability and more assurance against any tendencies ofthe carriage to tilt and possibly fall from the cables, attention isdirected to the arrangement in FIG. 18 wherein the frame 88 is invertedwith respect to the wheels 92, 94

and 96 so as to be arranged pendant-like with respect to the supportingcables 38, 40 and 42. Such arrangement is easily provided by theappropriate brackets 124 which extend upward from the base frame 88 forexample and having U-shaped portions receiving the outermost wheels 92and 96 respectively as well as providing bearings for the opposite endsof a pair of auxiliary shafts 126 which are used to support the wheels92, 94 and 96. However, shafts 90 and 91 may be retained so that atleast one of them may be driven by the motor 98 and the driving forcethereof is transmitted to at least one of the shafts 126 by means of apair of transfer gears 128 and 130 respectively connected to said one ofshafts 126 and one of the shafts 90 or 91. Accordingly, substantiallyall of the weight of the carriage will be below the level of thesupporting cables 38, 40 and 42.

When adapting the toy traversing hoist described hereinabove to gameuse, a number of different possibilities exist. For example, the lowerend of the hoisting cable 106 may have, for example, a short cylindricalpermanent magnet 132 connected thereto as shown in FIG. 11. Possible usethereof is described hereinafter. Under other circumstances however,especially if the apparatus is to be used strictly as a toy to liftcertain objects, an appropriate hook 134 may be afiixed to the lower endof the hoisting cable 106, one example of such hook being shown in FIG.12.

One type of game apparatus to which the toy traversing hoist readily maybe adapted however is illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein an inclined troughor chute 136 is provided, the same also being illustrated in FIG. 1.From the latter particularly, it will be seen that the trough or chute136 preferably is mounted directly below the supporting cables andespecially directly below the hoisting cable 196. Assuming that thehoisting cable 10 is supporting a permanent magnet 132, the gameapparatus comprising the chute 136 preferably has a series of pivotallysupported gate members 138 mounted in longitudinally spaced positionsalong the trough as best shown in FIG. 13. The gates preferably are offerrous metal and have a terminal, downwardly extending lip 140 thereonwhich preferably is complementary to the inner surfaces of the chute136.

By manipulating suitably the selector switch 118 and the polarizedswitch 120, the carriage 36 may be caused to move longitudinally withrespect to the chute 136 and the magnet 132 on the hoisting cable forexample, may be brought into attracting position with respect to one ofthe gate members 138 and elevate the same, for example, to the dottedline position shown near the righthand end of FIG. 13. To release thegate, appropriate elevation of the magnet 132 will finally overcome themagnetic attraction and thus permit the gate to fall to its normalposition shown in full lines in FIG. 13.

Further in accordance with the contemplated game operation, a pluralityof steel ball bearings 141 may be disposed within the chute 136 and acertain number may be positioned respectively behind the lips 140 ofeach of the gates 138 for example. By successively elevating the gates138, the balls can be caused to roll to the lower end of the chute 136as shown in FIG. 13 for example.

To render the game aspects still more complex, an additional chute 142may be mounted at an incline in longitudinally spaced relationship tothe trough 136, as illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 1. Disposednear the upper end of additional chute 142 is a wiping plate 144 whichhas a V-shaped notch 146 formed therein. By lowering the magnet 132 forexample into the accumulation of the ball bearings 141 near the lowerend of trough 136, and then elevating the same, followed by movement ofthe carriage 36 along the cables until the magnet 132 is above theadditional chute 142, the magnet 132 then may be lowered by the hoistingcable 106 until the magnet is wipingly dragged into the notch 146 ofplate 144 so that, upon elevating the magnet, the ball bearings attachedthereto by magnetic force are separated therefrom. The ball bearings 141then may roll down into an appropriate bin 148 or toy truck, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that many variations of play andgame arrangements are possible with this apparatus. To furthercomplicate the operation of the apparatus either as a game or contesttype of diversion, one or more obstacle devices 150 may be mounted inthe line of travel between the chutes 136 and 142, as shown for examplein FIG. 1. Under the circumstances, the heads 152 of the obstacles willfunction to wipe the ball bearings from the magnet 132 as moved betweenthe several chutes, unless the magnet has been elevated sufiiciently toavoid the heads 152.

It also should be understood that the power-supplying, multi-wireconduit 60 may be connected to the various cables 38, 40 and 42 in anyother manner than that specifically illustrated in FIG. 4 for example.One alternate form comprises pinch-type contact clips commonly used inmany types of electrical apparatus but the arrangement specificallyillustrated in FIG. 4 offers the advantage of having the connectionremoved from the path of movement of the carriage 36 with respect tosaid cables.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A toy traversing hoist comprising in combination three metalliccables, 'means to support said cables at opposite ends in parallelrelationship substantially within a common horizontal plane andelectrically insulated from each other, a carriage having a set of atleast three grooved wheels rotatable thereon in transversely spacedrelationship similar to the spacing of said cables and arrangedrespectively'to engage said cables for support of said carriage thereby,reversible electric motor means carried by said carriage, meansinterconnecting said motor means and said wheels selectively to rotatethem in desired opposite directions, and a double-throw electricpolarized switch means connectable to a source of current and two of thecontacts thereof being interconnected respectively to two of said cablesand the other being con nected to ground, whereby when said switch isclosed to complete a circuit between said grounded cable and one of theother cables said carriage willv move in one direction and when theswitch establishes a circuit between ground and the other cable thecarriage will move in an opposite direction. 7

2. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 1 further includinginsulating tensioning means interconnected "to all three cables at oneend and operable to equalize the tension on all said cablesautomatically while preserving the same electrically insulated from eachother.

3. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 2 in which saidtensioning means comprises a pair of sheaves having supporting clevisessupported in transversely spaced relationship by one of said meanssupporting said cables, another sheave having a clevis connected to oneend of the intermediate cable, and a cord-like tensioning and equalizingflexible insulating member extending around said another sheave and thenrespectively around said pair of sheaves, the outer ends of said memberbeing connected respectively to one end of each of said outermostcables, whereby tension applied to said one of said means supportingsaid cables will apply tension equally to all of said cables at one endthereof.

4. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 2 further includingcoiling means supported for rotation within the plane of said cables andconnected to the opposite ends of said cables, said coiling means beingrotatable simul-' taneously to place all of said cables under tension.

5. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 1 in which said means tosupport said cables at opposite ends comprise vertically extendingmembers at opposite ends of said cables and cross-arm support meansconnected to and extending transversely relative to said verticalmembers, the opposite ends of said cables being connected respectivelyto said cross-arm support means in transversely spaced relationship toeach' other substantiallywithin a common plane.

6. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 1 further including asecond reversibleelectric motor connected to said carriage for support,a drum rotatably supported by said carriage and connected to said secondmotor for rotation thereby, a flexible hoisting cable connected to saiddrum for raising and lowering the same in accordance with the directionof rotation of said drum, and a doublethrow selector switch connectedbetween said polarized switch and said two outermost cables, saidselector switch also being connectable to a source of current andoperable to establish a circuit selectively to said first-mentioned orsecond motor and said polarized switch being operable to determine thedirection of rotation of the motor to which a circuit is established bysaid selector switch.

7. The toy traversing hoist according to claim. 6 further including asecond set of three grooved wheels extending transversely to saidcarriage and the axis thereof being spaced longitudinally of saidcarriage relative to the axis of said first-mentioned set of threewheels, said wheels of each set being metallic and in electricalengagement with said cables, and contact shoes slidably engaging atleast a pair of said wheels of each set for electrical contact therewithand being connected in circuit with said motors, thereby to transmitcurrent thereto from said cables.

' 8. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 6 further includinggame means comprising a magnet on the free end of said hoist cable, aninclined chute extending in parallelism with the path of movement ofsaid carriage relative to said cables below the same, a series of gatespivotally connected to said chute in longitudinally spaced relationshipto each other, and rolling ferrous metal members rollable along saidchute between said gates when said gates are raised by said magnet asmoved longitudinally of said chute and vertically.

9. The toy traversing hoist and game means according to claim '8 furtherincluding notched means also positioned below said cables in alignmentwith the path of movement of said carriage and operable to have saidmagnet dragged into said notch to strip therefrom any metallic rollingmembers attached thereto magnetically to free the magnet of saidmembers.

10. The toy traversing hoist according to claim 6 in which said wheelsare mounted above said carriage in use,

'whereby the weight of said motors carried by said carriage isbelow saidwheels and serves as a pendant to prevent possible accidental tilting ofsaid carriage incident to movlng along said cables.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,745,276 1/ 1930 Sherwood 46402,481,686 9/1949 Roggenstein 46-243 3,331,153 7/1967 Woods 46-244 LOUISG. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TOY TRAVERSING HOIST COMPRISING IN COMBINATION THREE METALLICCABLES, MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID CABLES AT OPPOSITE ENDS IN PARALLELRELATIONSHIP SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN A COMMON HORIZONTAL PLANE ANDELECTRICALLY INSULATED FROM EACH OTHER, A CARRIAGE HAVING A SET OF ATLEAST THREE GROOVED WHEELS ROTATABLE THEREON IN TRANSVERSELY SPACEDRELATIONSHIP SIMILAR TO THE SPACING OF SAID CABLES AND ARRANGEDRESPECTIVELY TO ENGAGE SAID CABLES FOR SUPPORT OF SAID CARRIAGE THEREBY,REVERSIBLE ELECTRIC MOTOR MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE, MEANSINTERCONNECTING SAID MOTOR MEANS AND SAID WHEELS SELECTIVELY TO ROTATETHEM IN DESIRED OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AND A DOUBLE-THROW ELECTRICPOLARIZED SWITCH MEANS CONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF CURRENT AND TWO OF THECONTACTS THEREOF BEING INTERCONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO TWO OF SAID CABLESAND THE OTHER BEING CONNECTED TO GROUND, WHEREBY WHEN SAID SWITCH ISCLOSED TO COMPLETE A CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID GROUNDED CABLE AND ONE OF THEOTHER CABLES SAID CARRIAGE WILL MOVE IN ONE DIRECTION AND WHEN THESWITCH ESTABLISHES A CIRCUIT BETWEEN GROUND AND THE OTHER CABLE THECARRIAGE WILL MOVE IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION.